There they might live in peace and safety
while all the country round was overrun by rude and barbarous men.
One cold night in winter the serving men of the abbey were gathered
in the great kitchen. They were sitting around the fire and trying to
keep themselves warm.
Out of doors the wind was blowing. The men heard it as it whistled
through the trees and rattled the doors of the abbey. They drew up
closer to the fire and felt thankful that they were safe from the
raging storm. "Who will sing us a song?" said the master woodman as
he threw a fresh log upon the fire.
"Yes, a song! a song!" shouted some of the others. "Let us have a good
old song that will help to keep us warm."
"We can all be minstrels to-night," said the chief cook. "Suppose we
each sing a song in turn. What say you?"
"Agreed! agreed!" cried the others. "And the cook shall begin."
The woodman stirred the fire until the flames leaped high and the
sparks flew out of the roof hole. Then the chief cook began his song.
He sang of war, and of bold rough deeds, and of love and sorrow.
After him the other men were called, one by one; and each in turn sang
his favorite song.
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